Business
When is Taking a Personal Loan to Pay Rent a Good Idea
Realizing you don’t have enough money to pay rent can be a jarring experience. Whether it’s due to a gap in income or sudden job loss, rent is one of the most important expenses that can’t be avoided.
If you ever find yourself in such a situation, ask your landlord if they can give you a little extra time or whether it’s okay to pay it in installments. If that’s not a possibility, you can take out a personal loan for it. Before we get to that, let’s look at all sides of it to ensure your circumstances can afford a personal loan.
When is it okay to take out a personal loan to pay rent?
Generally speaking, taking out a personal loan to pay rent should be your last resort because they are expensive and can stretch your already thin finances even more. But if you have no options left, then a short-term personal loan could be helpful.
If you are in the middle of a job change and can afford the loan with the new job, then it’s okay to take out a personal loan for rent. A personal loan could also be helpful if you are relocating and need to take care of a month or two month’s rent as you wait for your landlord to clear your security deposit.
Basically, take a personal loan only if you are sure that you will have enough funds to afford the monthly repayments on top of your usual monthly expenses. If you think you won’t have a decent cash flow in the upcoming months then a personal loan can thrust you deeper into a financial crisis.
There are different kinds of personal loans that you should be aware of to find an option that works best for your financial situation.
Types of personal loans to pay rent
Even though short-term personal loans are unsecured, there are other kinds of personal loans that you can look into. Each loan requires you to repay the loan in fixed instalments and charges you a fixed interest rate.
· Secured personal loans
A secured personal loan would require you to sign off on one of your assets as collateral to secure the debt. The most typical collateral includes investments, vehicles, or savings accounts. If you aren’t able to pay it off, the lender can cease the asset in place of payment. As the collateral secures repayment in one way or another, you will be able to qualify for these even with a low credit score.
· Emergency loans
As the name suggests, these are unsecured personal loans that can be used for emergencies like hospital bills, urgent home repairs, or pay rent. This kind of loan comes in smaller amounts, which can be a good thing to pay off your rent.
· Payday loans
If your financial bind is temporary and you are sure you will be able to pay off the debt with your next paycheck, then payday loans are also a viable option. However, you should be aware that payday loans
charge you high-interest rates even on small loan amounts and require you to pay it off entirely with your next paycheck.
When is it a bad idea to take out a personal loan to pay off rent?
If you already know that you won’t be able to pay off the debt, then taking out a personal loan is a bad idea. Missed repayments or defaulting on the loan can damage your credit score, which would put you at risk for any future loans.
Conclusion
If you are thinking about taking out a personal loan to pay off rent, take a moment to consider all your options. Is there a friend or family member who can provide you with financial help until you get back on your feet? Can you get a roommate to reduce the burden? If none of that is available to you, look for lenders that offer the most favourable terms to ensure you don’t struggle too hard. We hope this.
SEE ALSO: How2Invest: Interactive Tools & Everything You Need to Know